Newrez Launches Home Rewards Program

Newrez announced a new incentive program offering homebuyers and sellers closing cost kickbacks and other white-glove services. Created with the help of Newzip, a tech-enabled real estate platform, Newrez Home Rewards gives homebuyers access to an advisor, moving assistance, and closing cost credits up to 0.5%. Those who are also selling a home can get up to 1% in credits. Buyers benefit both from savings and Newrez’s “unique concierge experience,” the company said. “In delivering a closing cost credit and a home concierge program through the Newzip partnership, we are furthering our commitment to our customers,” said Baron Silverstein, Newrez president. “Our holistic approach brings value to our clients not just when they buy their home but through the lifecycle…

Blue Sage Solutions COO Says Lenders Are Turning To Technology For Better Results

By KIMBERLEY HAAS The chief operating officer at Blue Sage Solutions says they have more prospects in their pipeline than ever before as lenders turn to technology. Leaders at the New Jersey-based company recently announced the launch of the Blue Sage Digital Servicing Platform. The initial version of the system includes all the necessary functions to perform interim servicing, with full-scale servicing functionality to follow. Lenders can use the platform to automate closed loan transfers, process individual and batch payments, onboard loans, and collect payments, according to a press release. “We are thrilled to introduce a truly innovative, digital, cloud-built servicing platform that we expect will transform mortgage servicing operations as we know it,” Carmine Cacciavillani, founder and chairman of…

Knock Opens Funding To Individuals Through Wefunder

Buy Before You Sell fintech Knock has allocated $5 million of a $15 million financing round to individuals alongside its investors. The company announced an equity crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder, a public investment platform, to allow individuals to invest before it goes public or gets acquired. The funding round is co-led by Second Century Ventures, the venture capital arm of NAR, and Foundry Venture Capital. The goal, according to Knock co-founders Sean Black and Jamie Glenn, is to create investment opportunities they were unable to prioritize when their company Trulia went public and was acquired by Zillion. People who used the product were unable to invest until it was already valued in the billions of dollars. “We founded Knock to…

Fannie Mae Names Morgan Stanley Exec New COO

Fannie Mae appointed a new EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Morgan Stanley exec Peter Akwaboah. Akwaboah brings almost thirty years of experience in the financial services industry to the position. He will oversee Fannie Mae’s Chief Information Office, Enterprise Operations, Business Resiliency, and Enterprise Workplace and Security functions. “Peter’s many years of experience and unique combination of technology and operations expertise will add to our deep leadership bench, and his wealth of experience and industry knowledge will bring great value to the company,” said Fannie Mae CEO Priscilla Almodovar. “We look forward to the talent and experience he’ll bring to our technology and operations as we continue to respond to the needs of the market, carefully balancing innovation, risk management,…

LoanCare Reveals New Mobile App

Subservicer LoanCare launched a new app geared towards simplifying how homeowners manage their mortgages. My LoanCare Go is part of the company’s goal to push loan management into the modern age, with everything designed to be used on mobile.  “We are excited about the launch of the My LoanCare Go mobile app, as it is always LoanCare’s goal to provide our customers with a seamless user experience that offers robust features and personalized convenience,” said Dave Worrall, President of LoanCare. Users can access all of their loan details in one place, and do everything from making secure payments to tracking loan finances. Tax, escrow, insurance, autopay, and statement information are all available. The app uses biometric authentication with facial recognition…

Ardley Rolls Out Automatic Underwriting Engine

Mortgage tech company Ardley rolled out an automatic underwriting engine that creates instant conditional loan approvals for qualified buyers. The program, Autopilot, generates personalized loan offers through the Ardley platform instantaneously, giving lenders and servicers flexibility in the current volatile rate environment. “Autopilot reflects our ongoing commitment to reducing the cost and complexity of originating mortgages while helping lenders and servicers unlock hidden deal opportunities,” Nate Den Herder, Ardley Founder and CEO, said in a press release. “By leveraging a client’s pricing, fees, and credit policies, along with any resell guidelines, Autopilot delivers confidence that every offer presented to a customer with conditional approval is real. And by generating loan approvals instantly—not minutes, hours, or days later—our clients can be…

One-On-One: Agave Home Loans CEO Talks About Building A Successful Team

Having a team of motivated mortgage professionals has helped Agave Home Loans grow since it was founded at the beginning of 2020. Co-owners Marshall Gottlieb and Douglas Wang conducted business that year from two bedrooms at Wang’s house during a time when the Covid pandemic disrupted the traditional work from an office model. They had a list for cold calls and if they connected with a potential client on the phone, they would have to sprint to a quiet place to talk to them. Today, Agave has 70 team members and was listed as a 2023 top performing partner for wholesale and correspondent lending by Rocket Pro TPO. Gottlieb recently sat down with Editor Kimberley Haas to talk about their…

Guild Acquires Friendly Competitor Academy Mortgage

Guild Mortgage is acquiring its friendly competitor Academy Mortgage Corporation, gaining 200 branches and more than 600 licensed mortgage originators in the process. Utah-based Academy Mortgage will extend Guild’s market share across the nation, Guild said in a press release, thanks to the number of employees and size of the business to transition over. Both companies are licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Academy’s branches will transition to Guild branding and operate as a division within Guild. Academy’s loan volume will bring in about a 25% increase in annual origination volume for Guild. Academy Mortgage Chief Executive Adam Kessler will join Guild’s senior leadership team. Guild CEO Terry Schmidt called the acquisition “two like-minded organizations joining forces to continue…

Better Launches Zero-Down Digital VA Loan Program

Better launched a fully digital zero-down VA loan program designed to expedite and simplify the buying process for veterans. Better Mortgage VA Loans offers home loans for up to 100% of the purchase price of a primary residence, with no down payment required. The company says they will be 40 bps cheaper than traditional VA loans. It is available to eligible US Veterans, service members, and National Guard and Reserve members in all 50 states. In some cases, veterans’ spouses may also qualify. “Better has brought the traditional mortgage into the digital era, launching our 1 Day Mortgage Product and funding over $100 billion of fully digital mortgages. With Better’s VA Loans, we are opening the door for even more…

One-On-One: BaseCap Analytics CEO Talks About Overcoming Data Challenges

The leader of an analytics business that provides technology for companies in the mortgage space says they are on a mission to set a new standard for data integrity and trusted automation. According to Steve Smith, CEO and co-founder of BaseCap Analytics, there is a need industry-wide for clean, accurate records. By leveraging validation technology, companies can streamline internal processes and let their employees focus on activities that enhance productivity. BaseCap Analytics can also help companies with regulatory reporting and compliance. The company recently announced a pilot with Cenlar FSB, the nation’s leading residential mortgage subservicer. “We are pleased to pilot BaseCap’s solutions in an effort to strengthen our ability to comply with an increasingly complex web of mortgage servicing…